Homemade Lavender Heating Pad

My friend, Cindy, gave me a rice filled heating pad for my birthday one year that she made herself. At least once a week I toss it in the microwave for a few minutes to heat up the rice and lavender (and I think she also put in orange peels!) I use it around my neck and shoulders after a long day in front of the computer. It is more perfect than anything I could find in a store. They are great tucked under your sore back or to slip into your cold bed to warm it up before you hit the hay. I figured I could make some myself and would keep a look-out for the same type of fabric she used, a stretchy corduroy that is so soft but won’t slip and slide when I put it on.Turns out the Liz Claiborne store in our local outlet mall was closing shop and every item was $3 each. I found a whole rack of colorful stretch corduroy pants. Not exactly my style, but I snagged the best colors in the largest sizes I could find. I knew they would be perfect for making the heating pads- two to a pair! There are plenty of ways to make these pads and lots of things to fill them with. Here’s my version.I cut at the leg seams and created large flat sections of fabric for the front and back of the pad. One pair of pants had sewn-on back pockets that were screaming to be used. I cut out a pocket and trimmed out the innards.

Laying two different colored pieces of fabric together I cut out the biggest rectangle I could. Once pinned together I folded back an end section and pinned on the pocket. I sewed around the pocket with a zig-zag/applique stitch. (Darling pin cushion from Jane’s Designs!)

Then I sewed around the rectangle reinforcing the edge with a zig-zag stitch leaving a section open to turn the piece right side out and to fill with the rice that I had mixed several drops of Lavender oil in.

It took about 8 cups of rice total for mine. Once filled, (I may have over-filled mine a bit,) I hand-stitched the opening and flattened out the pad on the table to determine the sections I would sew. Sectioning the pad helps keep all the rice from falling into one area. I created grooves to sew as I went and made a total of 4 sections. If you aren’t adding a pocket, I would suggest doing like my friend did and sew one long seam down the middle and creating three seams on the short side for a total 8 sections.

Once finished, you can heat for 2-minute increments until you have it just right but not too hot.Give as a gift with some fun things tucked in the pocket such as a book, reading glasses, an eye mask made from the remainder of pants fabric, or a favorite tea and a lovely note. When gifting, don’t forget to make a cute tag with heating instructions.

Oh, I think I’ll make these for my kids for valentine’s day. We keep our heat very low and this would be a great bedwarmer for them. Thanks for the directions! You did a really good job with all the details, too.

Hi Sue, thanks for asking about the rice recipe. It’s not much of a recipe, I used Lavender essential oil and shook about 12 good drops into around 8 cups of rice. I would’ve used actual lavender if I had some. Here’s a good discussion on the Etsy forums that might interest you:

I love your idea of using pant legs and the pocket for a book is perfect!
I make a smaller kid version of “bed buddies” for my 5 children using their outgrown flannel pajamas and brown rice. I’ve made mine using a pillow case type cover over the inside rice bag so at least the outside is washable, a bit more sanitary for kids.
One word of caution, material density matters, as the rice is repeatedly heated it begins to break up and thinner fabrics allow a kind of sandy grit to escape. This won’t happen with a denser fabric.
For a very quick heating bag fill a tube sock with rice, corn or wheat and knot the end very tightly, this is what the hospital used for comfort after my c-sections. Worked GREAT!
Thanks for a Terrific idea, I know what all my relatives are getting for Christmas next year, I just love the pocket idea!!
Thanks so much!! Karin in NH

Very cute! I was trying to figure out what the pocket was for – awesome idea!

How many drops of oil do you think you used? I bot one of the medium bags of rice from Walmart ($2.99) but have held off putting in the oil as I’m not sure how much. I did a couple other bags together & mixed lavender bath salts in that I had made. Hoping that wasn’t a mistake! I think the Epson will be as therapeutic as the lavender.